hudner



(No Model 2 Shets-Sheet 1. W. P. PRESTON, P. J. HUDNER 82; J. J. KELLEY; I REVOLVING DRIER FOR DE$IGUATING BREWERS GRAINS, &c.

N0. 412,539. Patented 001;. ,1889] dmb: lit/676507??? ul-@ .v\'

- WW flrw N. PEKIWv Pl-uo-Lilm mpher. wam n wn. D C

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM P. PRESTON, FRANK J. HUDNER, AND JAMES J. KELLEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y. SAID KELLEY ASSIGNOR TO SAID PRESTON AND HUDNER.

REVOLVING DRIER FOR DESICCATIN G BREWERS GRAINS,& C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 412,539, dated October 8, 1889.

Application filed December 13, 1888. Serial No. 293,430. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, WILLIAM P. PRESTON, FRANK J. HUDNEE, and JAMES J. KELLEY, all of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Revolving Driers forDesiccating Brewers Grains and other Materials; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to that class of graindriers in which the material to be dried is carried through a revolving cylinder in connection with currents of hot air.

It has for its object to simplify the construction of the apparatus and increase its efficiency; and it consists of the improved arrangement and combination of the several parts thereof in manner as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the. accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of the improved apparatus in line a 00 of Fig. 2; and Figs. 2 and 3, vertical transverse sections in the lines y y and z 2, respectively, of Fig. 1.

A represents a metallic cylinder closed at each end by head-plates A A and mounted to revolve upon a central rotating shaft B, to which it is secured. The shaft B is geared to a suitable motor in the customary manner and is mounted in fixedjournal-bearings D D at each end thereof. These bearings D D are fitted in outer end walls E E, and an inclosed space or chamber F F is formed between each head A and the proximate end wall E. The cylinder is made to rest upon frictionwheels H H placed in pairs at proper inter-- vals under its length, so as to relieve itsjournals from strain, each friction-wheel being journaled in a fork W, mounted adjustably in a pedestal W, and secured, when adjusted vertically, by a screw-bolt a. By means of this vertical adjustment the friction-wheels may be kept in constant contact with the cylinder notwithstanding their wear. A series of slots or openings J J are formed longitudinally at regular intervals in the periphery of the cylinder A at each end to communicate freely with the interior thereof, these openings being separated by comparatively narrow strips. Flues K K are extended longitudinally through the cylinder from end to end thereof to communicate freely with the end chambers FF. Each flue K is preferably formed of a metallic plate, which is bent longitudinally, so as to be substantially U- shaped in cross-section, and which is made to extend the entire length of the cylinder and to project out with a close jointthrough open ings in each head thereof, the two edges of the plate being fitted and secured longitudinally against the inner periphery of the cylinder and inner face of one of the strips sep arating the openings J J. The fines K thus severally attached to the inner periphery of the cylinder project radially inward therefrom, each a distance somewhat less than onehalf the diameter of the cylinder, and serve as agitators to lift and stir up the grain admitted into the cylinder. The peripheral openings J J in the ends of the cylinder serve as ports for the longitudinal compartments formed therein by the fines K"K, and which radiate from the central open space through which the axial shaft extends, and

free communication is established by means of said ports between these compartments and a hopper M at one end of the cylinder and a discharge spout or chute N at the other, as hereinafter described. Each end of the cylinder A is inclosed by a stationary metallic band P P incircling the same and made wide enough to cover fully the openings J J therein. These annular inclosing-bands P P are divided diametrically to permit of the removal of the cylinder when required, the two, divisions being united by flanges c c and bolts 61 d, (see Fig. 3,) and apowerful spring ois inserted under the nut f upon each bolt, so that, by reason of the elastic action thereof, the two divisions may spread apart sufficiently to prevent any undue binding of the cylinder against the bands by reason of the greater expansion of the cylinder, which may occur by reason of changes of temperature in the apparatus. The binding of the joint between the cylinder and these end bands P P, because of an unequal expansion or contraction of the cylinder or of the bands, is furthermore guarded against by suspending the bands from transverse bars 9 by means of turn-buckles hand bolts 'L' and interposing spiral springs m between the head of each bolt and its turn-buckle, as illustrated in Fig. 3. If, therefore, from any cause the cylinder A is left to bear upon the bands P P so as to create a tendency to bind therein, the bands will yield by reason of the resiliency of the springs m sufficiently to prevent undue friction and allow the cylinder to find and maintain its bearing upon the friction-Wheels H H in manner as described. The joint between the edge of each band is made close and accurate by means of interposed packing-rings a a, secured to the cylinder in any suitable manner. The receiving-hopper M is mounted upon the upper division of the annular band P at the front end of the cylinder, to communicate through the openings J J with the radial segmental compartments L L, while a discharge-opening N is formed in the lower division of the corresponding band P at the opposite end of the cylinder, whereby communication is established in like manner between said radial compartments L L and the discharge spout or chute N. The hopper M and the discharge-spout N are each controlled by a suitable valve R R. The upper portion of the band P is fitted with an exhaust pipe or fine T for the discharge of the vapor and hot air from the drying-compartments L L of the cylinder. The end chambers F and F are overarched and made perfectly tight in connection with the end walls E E and suitable lateral Walls. The cylinder A is inclosed within a casing C, of brick or metal, overarching the same, and the encircling chamber formed thereby is connected at the receiving end of the apparatus with a suitable furnace Y and at its opposite end with the chamber F. The chamber F at the receiving end is made to communicate freely, by means of a bent connecting-pipe or flue V, with an opening in the fixed band P, and through it with the peripheral ports J J of the cylinder.

In the operation of the machine the brewers grains or other damp or Wet material to be dried is fed into the machine through the hopper M, and dropping through the openings J J, registeringtherewith in the periphery of the revolving cylinder A, falls into the segmental compartments L L. As the cylinder A revolves the grains will be constantly lifted and carried up by the radial walls of the longitudinal fines K K toward the top of the cylinder and dropped, so as to fall through the open central space into the lower compartments. The grain is thus automatically kept in constant agitation in passing forward from the receiving to the discharge end of the cylinder, and is thereby fully exposed to the currents of the hot air therein, its forward movement being enforced by the weight and pressure of the grain admitted through the hopper or by a slight inclination of the cylinder. Upon reaching the rear end the grain drops through the openings J J in said end into the discharge-spout N, and through itinto the receptacle beneath it. In themeantime, as the grain is thus carried forward in constant agitation through the cylinder from the hopper M to the discharge-spout N, a stream of dry hot air admitted directly from the furnace Y into the chamber en circling the cylinder A and carried longitudinally over and around the exterior of the cylinder A enters the chamber F, passes thence into and through the longitudinal fines K K, by which it is led into the end chamber F, and flows thence through the flue V into the dryingspace formed by the compartments L L of the cylinder, where it is brought into direct contact with the agitated mass of grain therein, so as to reach every particle thereof, and it is finally discharged, with the moisture taken up from the grain, through the exhaust-flue T. The cylinder or drying-chamber is thus heated to a temperature which produces a rapid evaporation of moisture from the grain traveling through the longitudinal compartments L L thereof, and the direct contact of the hot air and gases with the grain so heated, and which is in constant agitation, as described, promotes and assists said evaporation and thoroughly dries the grain by rapidly taking up and carrying off the Vapor liberated therefrom. The drying of the grain is thus effected with great economy of time, heat, and power.

WVe claim as our invention- 1. The combination, in a drying apparatus, of a furnace, a revolving drying chamber formed with longitudinal compartments or recesses opening and radiating from its axial center, external hot-air flues placed between said compartments to extend the length of said drying-chamber and communicate mediately therewith at one end and with the furnace at the other, a hopper communicating with the end of the drying-chamber at which the hot air enters the same, and a dischargeflue and a discharge-spout communicating with the opposite end of said chamber, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. The combination, in a drying apparatus, with arevolvingdryingchamber formed with longitudinal compartments opening or radiating from its axial center, of longitudinal flues constituting the partitions between said radial compartments and which are made to extend outwardly beyond the same, a closed outer chamber formed at each end of the dryin g-chamber and into which said longitudinal flues open,a furnace connected with one of said end chambers, a flue connecting the opposite end chamber with the compartments of the revolving drying-chamber through peripheral ports in the proximate end of the latter, a hopper communicating with the same peripheral ports, a discharge-spout and a discharge-flue both communicating with said compartments through peripheral ports therein at the opposite end of the drying-chamber, and stationary bands covering and closing the peripheral ports at each end of the drying chamber when they are not in register with the hopper, the discharge-spout, or the discharge-flue, all substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. The combination, in a grain-drying apparatus, of the revolving cylinder having peripheral ports in its ends, diametrically-divided apertured bands inclosing said ends and covering said ports, bolts passing through lateral lugs or flanges in the divisions of the band to unite them, and spiral springs encircling the bolts to permit an automatic expansion of the divided bands, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

4. The combination, in a grain-drying appanames to this specification in the presence of 0 two subscribing Witnesses.

WILLIAM P. 2 PRESTON.

' k FRANK J. Hl fi DNER. JAMES J. KELLEY.

Witnesses:

A. N. J ESBERA, E. M. WATSON. 

